The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz - The Pitch Clock: Jake Storiale & 2004 Baseball Card Trivia

Episode Date: August 23, 2024

On today's episode of The Pitch Clock, Jake Storiale of Jomboy Media joins the show as our expert to discuss the best teams in baseball, teams that could make a surprising run this postseason, and the proposed 6-inning minimum for starting pitchers. But first, Mike and Chris join Jeremy for some trivia based on the complete set of Topps 2004 Baseball Cards, and Mike has a bone to pick with Taylor over the results. Also, we have some bonus content with the rest of our interview with Jake as he gives some insight into New York Baseball including the Yankees general vibes and the odds of Pete Alonso and Juan Soto remaining with their respective teams next year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You're listening to Giraffe King's Network. artists and athletes. Learn more at rbc.com support youth. Welcome to the Pitch Clock. Here's the Pitch, a two-part baseball segment combining a nostalgic baseball trivia game and an interview with an expert. This is the Pitch Clock. This is the Pitch Clock. Pitch Clock is back and before we get to our interview with an expert, we have two fellow members of the shipping container with me today. We have Chris Cody and Mike Ryan. Taylor, why don't you go ahead and let us know what today's game will be? I'm on fire in this thing.

The baseball cards are back. We have the complete set of 2004. It's divided into three piles Yeah, we're not doing though. Who's got what everything okay? He's nervous, dude Small test is miniature, but we have a B and C Jeremy a Mike Ryan be Chris Cody see that's it And so what I actually I don't believe I've played this specific game So could you explain the rules to the audience? Yeah, very small watch. I do have a very small one I'll give you a name from the 2004 complete set tops cards

You have to just tell me what team were they on and to this card. Okay, cool This is where I famously said Carlos and Brano with it. What's a giant was a giant? Okay, alright So I'm a then so I'll go first correct All right, you first name up Robin Ventura and it's gonna be seven rounds and what year are we talking 2004? 2004 alright, so that's every every card that you're pulling is from 2004 So we have to guess the team that this player was on in 2004, correct Robin Ventura was on the New York Mets in 2004 incorrect Dodgers So we don't get to steal.

Okay, good. Are you allowed to curse? Are we allowed to curse? You can curse if you want, it's gonna be bleeped. But you can curse. Mike Ryan, Gary Sheffield. In 2004? I'm gonna say New York Yankees.

It was Yankee. That was right. Damn! I knew that one. I knew it too! I did not, years I would've got wrong, that one I would've got right. Chris. I knew that one. I knew it too. I did not, years I would have got wrong, that one I would have got right. Chris Cody, Orlando Hudson.

Oh. The O-Dog. A national. No. He was at one point. Does the room know it? Yeah, can I take a guess? No steals, but.

No steals? He was, was he a diamondback? Nope. He was a blue jay? He was a blue jay. Yeah, he was a national, he was a Washington player at some point, no? He might have been.

Okay. Jeremy, round two. Javi Vasquez. It's Vasquez. Javi Vasquez in 2004, was he a San Francisco giant? White Sock. No! Can I guess?

Was he a New York Yankee as well? He wasn't a white sock Was he a Marlin? No, no, no, go ahead. Tell us he was an expo. Okay. Oh right forgot those guys This is devastating. All right, so he was in Washington National we're no watching there were no Washington Nationals if there were Montreal likes-Men. Well, wait, that would have been bullsh-t if you... you gotta give me that one. No, no. That was another point of contention last time. The half point that we kind of let linger on too long. Doug Glanville. My crime.

Oh, I know. Uh, Doug Glanville in 04? I'm gonna say Doug Glanville was a Chicago Cub in 04. Oh, that would have been my guess. Where was he at? He was a Philly. Wow. But I thought he got, okay. No, I knew he was a Philly.

I just thought he was a Cub by then. He was a Cub the year before. Yeah, I was remembering 03. I'm like 04 is close enough. This is pretty disappointing. We've only gotten one right so far, Chris. Chris Cody. I got this.

Al Leiter. 04? Don't make gestures. Small watch. I like my watch. I'm gonna go with, I'll just go with the mess. He wasn't that. Yeah, he wasn't that.

Devastating. And now our expert from this week's episode of the Pitch Clock is gonna be from John Boy Media. We have Jake Storielli talking Jake on socials. Jake, first and foremost, thank you so much for joining us today and blessing us with your presence here on the Pitch Clock. Hey man, thank you.

And man, expert doesn't get thrown out a lot. So a little nervous about that one, but excited to yuck some ball. Yeah. Well, we know, we know what you're talking about when it comes to baseball. And that's why we're excited to have you here. Um, because we're going to start right here with some of the best teams in baseball right now. It's the Dodgers, the Yankees, the Phillies in the Orioles with the four best odds to win the world series.

So if I asked you right here, sitting here today of that group, which would you say is the most likely to actually win it all? Who of that group today? And we joked about this beforehand, but you're not getting a Yankees out of me. Yankee fans are, Yankee fans are in a weird spot with the crew right now. I think if, if I had to put my, my actual hard earned money on it, I'd probably lean Dodgers. They haven't been whole all year. Mookie's missed a ton of the season. They have a full pitching staff on the IL while they kind of have a pitching staff back that, you know, whoever comes back, whether it's Glassnow, Yamamoto, and even if they don't, they're still positioned okay.

That yeah, the Dodgers just got Muncie back. They just got Tommy Edmond back. So the Dodgers have been one of the best teams while still playing with one arm tied behind their back that I want to be surprised if they get hot. We've seen San Diego and Arizona have their hot streak. I want to be surprised if the Dodgers have another hotter streak while they've't be surprised if the Dodgers have another

hotter streak while they've already been better than these teams. So they're the safest one at this point. Well, we certainly know that the pressure is on that team to go ahead and win it this year, given what the payroll looks like, given what that roster looks like. And you're right, as they get healthy,

we can only anticipate that they'll get stronger and stronger. Jake, when it comes to the best record since the All-Star break, we talk about those teams that have had hot streaks. You got the Padres, the Diamondbacks, and actually the Brewers as well. All those teams with a 643 winning percentage

over that stretch. So all in different positions. Obviously the Brewers lead their division by a landslide and they're gonna go ahead and win the Central. The other two teams we're talking about here in the Padres and Diamondbacks, they're leading the wild card in the National League. If I had to say, hey, one of those teams is going to go on a run and steal that

National League pennant from the Dodgers. Which one of those three teams would it be? Man, that's tough for me because I have been welcomed into Diamondbacks culture with welcome arms. It throws off a lot of Yankee fans. I do not remember 2001. I do. And that's that's fine. But, you know, the rivalry has been cool since then

that I would lean the two West Coast teams. And it's so rude to the Brewers and rude to the Central. But it feels like we've done the Brewers game a lot where the Snakes are the defending NL champs, they've been hot. There's an argument their team is better that you're not gonna wanna see them come October. I think again, if this was real money,

it just feels like something's happening in San Diego right now. And they're doing it without Fernando Tatis, Jr. That I love lineup depth. And I think where that Padres lineup currently is without Fernando and where they're going to be with him, I just believe in the postseason. Everybody has arms at this point, obviously, to different levels. Not everybody has bat.

So if you have a one through nine that's relentless, and we kind of seen that in the NL between the Phillies, the Snakes just got hot at the right time last year, and the Texas Rangers hit their way to the World Series, which like, I feel like that's never happened before. And I think there's just so much good arm talent in baseball that I think hitting is going to become more of an October thing. Jeremy, Corey Koski.

How old were you in 04? I was nine. Yeah, this is that's hard. Prime, though. Yeah, no, I'm disappointed that I haven't gotten one yet. And I, Corey Koski. I don't want to confuse him with another player, but I think he was a Chicago White Sock.

No, Brewer? Not at that time. Either a Blue Jay or a twin. He was a twin. He was a twin. Julio Lugo. Stroze? He wasn't an Astro.

He was a Met. He wasn't a Met. He wasn't a Met? Where was he? He was a Devil Ray. Whoa. So I can take the lead here. He was a Met. He wasn't a Met. He wasn't a Met? Where was he? He was a Devil Ray. Whoa. So I can take the lead here. He was a Devil Ray.

I can take the lead here. Octavio... D'Otel. Oh boy. Oh, you mean a guy that played for 15 teams? A thousand teams. He's played for like everybody in baseball. He only played for one of them, I think.

Ethan, blink twice if it's National League. He's not gonna do it. Say the name again, use it in a sentence. Octavio D'Otel, every team thinks they're an Octavio D'Otel away. That's a really good, that's a good sentence. The two teams that are coming to my mind are Astros and A's, I haven't guessed yet.

Okay. He perked up though. But he perked up. Astros. It was a shrub. I read the perk, I read the perk. Wow. I did not give that away. Taylor read the perk Wow I did not give Taylor gave it away let's see the perk yeah we might get an instant replay we might need to review the tape but that means through what four rounds three rounds

Cody leads to Mike's one to my. Now we're headed to round four. Jeremy, Ruben Sierra. In 2004. This is easy. I believe Ruben Sierra was a New York Yankee in 2004. Ruben Sierra was a Yankee. I knew he was 03, I just didn't know. Oh, thank God.

Okay. Off to Schneid. Mike Ryan. Yes. Artolo Colon. That's tough, man, it's another one. He's played for a million teams. I'm pretty sure in 04, I think I know where he was at.

Does he want a Cy Young in 05? Alright Jeremy shut your mouth. 2004... I think he was an angel? Guardian. This was a tough one. It's the White Sox. I don't really remember him on the White Sox.

The thing about the winning World Series in 04 was his... In 05 he was an angel. That's what I thought. He won a Cy Young for the angels. I was pretty sure. Man, that, I've been so close on mine. Let's go. Let me build this lead up.

All right, so I've tied Mike. Chris has a chance to take a two point lead here. Kevin Millwood. Oh. Stop giving him the easy one. Rangers. He wasn't a Ranger. Cleveland.

Not Cleveland. Really? Philly, though. Philly. Had to be Philly. This is Philly. Stop giving him the easy one Rangers Wasn't a ranger Cleveland not Cleveland really Billy Billy Man 2004 is a strange year for all these everyone. He's getting the easy one. This is okay Would have guessed what I guess no I guess Billy you got like it was clearly feeling Wrong I said I said this one's easy There's clearly three teams he played for. Round five for me. Jason Kendall. I mean, Jason Kendall was a Pittsburgh Pirate. For one team. Ooh, and 04.

Is that right? Can I see him? So that's not right? Did he lock in a final guess? Look, he said Pirates. At this point, I said it. I'm going to, I'm going to. It was the Pirates.

Of course, that's the worst one you've ever selected. That guy played for one team. He played for the A's, too. He was an A. That's bullsh. That is such bullsh- But Pittsburgh Pirates there, I mean- I got Ethan over my shoulder if the Mike picked it up, yelling he was a cub.

Yeah, at the very end of his career, right? At some point he was a cub. At the very, very end of his career. But yeah, Jason Kendall, I think- You don't include him as the answers Pirates. Taylor, give me an easy one. That feels good. I've tied up with Chris here, right? These are just random.

So you didn't get the one you were just on, right? Jeremy has two, but you also have this round. Yeah. Right. Mike Ryan to go to two. Omar Viscale. I mean, now we're just doing guys that are clearly with the team. Come on.

Hold on. Or am I trying to trick Mike? He's played for several teams. He played for like three teams. He played for the Whitesides, he played for the Giants, he definitely played for the Guards. Where was he in 04? I think.

Oh boy. Don't help me let me down on alert this is another one that I'm gonna get wrong by like it in 04 I think he was white sock he said white sock he was a Cleveland Indian yep guardian fine yeah all right all right let me take the lead here all Yep, Guardian. Fine. Yeah. All right. All right. Let me take the lead here. All right. Milton Bradley. Oh, that's a tough one.

And oh, for if he gets it wrong, can I guess? Yeah. Yeah. Because you know, the two teams he played for, so you're just going to get the other one. But Mike flex a little bit. Milton Bradley was throwing his helmet and arguing with umpires while playing for the Rangers. Not the ranger. Did he ever

play for the range? I don't know. Yeah, I think so. Blue. I can picture me. I was gonna guess expose back to back Cleveland. Yeah. Okay. Jeremy round six Tom Glavin in 2004. Tom Glavin. In 2004, Tom Glavin. Is easy. You think it's easy, but it's right around then. So many times you guys have said this is easy, then you name three teams and it's nothing. He's in the NL East at this point.

I just don't know if he's a brave or a met. And I don't want to be premature, but I'm going to say, I'm going to say that by 2004, he's a New New York. Yeah, he is. He was a match. Thank goodness. I was really nervous about that one. Jeremy said the two easiest ones, Jason Kendall and Tom Clavin. Tom, let's find it out. When did he go to the Mets? I just knew at that point. You know who drafted Tom Clavin? 2003 was his first year on the Mets.

Okay. You know who drafted Tom Clavin? His second season. The LA Kings Kings he got drafted in the NHL That's a fun fact, you know Where Wayne Gretzky got drafted which by the Braves he was undrafted I think you just joined with the Oilers when they expanded from the World Hockey League So it's three to one to two the best hockey player of all time was an undrafted player Yeah, because he was already like basketball you don't have Mike's turn?

Mike Ryan. Carlos Beltran. Ooh. In 04. Ooh. Not easy. No, man. Carlos Beltran played for a bunch of teams, so my options in this era are Royals, Mets,

and Shroes. Those are your options for sure. Yeah, I think, so. I think I had it. It all depends on where he is in the baseball card. I think he might have moved teams this year I'm gonna go Astros It's not it's what I thought really

He was a royal still really he got traded that year though, right Cuz I think he blew up that postseason. I thought that oh five postseason was when he got it Doesn't tell me if he got traded later in the season I thought should say that on the fight for what it's worth I'm if I bought him this year thousand five as the year that he was traded from Or I guess maybe to the first go to 2005 he was traded to the end this to tie Jeremy going into the last Yeah, I mean, can you get me in Tom Glavin or Jason Kendall? I can't.

Yeah, he was traded June 24th of 04. 04. Yeah, this has been a really hard luck for me. That's tough, man. Except for Jason Kendall and Tom Glavin. All right. Relax. Kenny Lofton.

OK. I think I know. Can I guess? I like this. Can I steal his? Because Lofton. Let me think about this. In 04.

Ethan, talk to me. Ethan. In 04. Don't look at his face. Can I just take his point? Give you $100. I'll take, I don't really, this one's tough for me.

I can only really, I'll go guardians. He wasn't a guardian. I think he was a Yankee. He was a Yankee Yep. All right going into the last round be Mike Ryan has won. Yeah It's not really one Hell one and a half been right there. I think everyone listening agrees that I'm in the lead I'm following them straight back. You could say that I'm in the lead. I don't understand how you could say that. These are random odds. I'm this shy from getting the timing right.

They are random. I shall. Yeah, come on. Jake, I'm really interested in the reports that came out earlier this week about a potential six inning minimum for starting pitchers. I personally think it's really interesting and probably something that would be good for the game in the long run. For those who don't know what the rule would be it would require

Starters to pitch at least six innings unless they've reached a hundred pitches have given up four or more earned runs Or they get injured and that injury ends up putting them on the IL that IL stint would be required So Jake, what are your thoughts about this potential rule going into something like Major League Baseball? Yeah, so we we've mulled this over a little bit and I actually Jake, what are your thoughts about this potential rule going into something like Major League Baseball? Yeah, so we've mulled this over a little bit. And I actually, my our producer, Big Baby David, we did some light research on it. Again, when you said experts, that's kind of not our strength over here. But I think we did some kind of unique math that found out like it would affect those

rules would currently have affected like 20 percent of starts, which that's a chunk, right? That's one out of five. That's every lap through the rotation. But again, that would that's not having had the rule that teams probably would have adjusted and operated differently. I'm open to it. My concerns are what they are hoping to accomplish with the rule. Like they kind of want starting pitchers to become more star power again. Like that used to be the question, Hey, you're going to the game. Who's pitching today? That's kind of been out for a while now. So I guess the question in my head becomes like chicken or the egg a little bit. Like,

I, I hate to use this guy as an example, and, you know, he's been friendly with us. And unfortunately, he's on the opponent right now. Corbin Burns. Corbin Burns has been an ace for a couple of years now. He's on a team vying for the best spot in the American League. Like Corbin Burns is an ace in this game and in the nicest way possible. This guy's come to our office. I don't know if like Corbin Burns doesn't necessarily move the needle the way I think MLB thinks it might. And it's not Corbin Burns don't grow on trees like I don't.

Teams would love for more Corbin Burns. So I think the star power that baseball is looking for from the old school pitching match, right? Sharers are first verlander today. Tune in. I don't know if that's going to solve it. The pitching world does need more change, and maybe it is this with the double hook that you'd lose your D.H. if you pull your pitcher before the six. I'm open to it.

I'm open to any new rule if it can help improve the game. I mean, the past couple couple have which has been awesome. And you know, there's some other fun ones around it. Like should we make more bullpen rules that if you bring in someone out of the bullpen they have to face five batters or something like that? I don't know. I'm wearing right now. I'm wearing one of our warehouse games jerseys. Let's go baggage. And it's fun because we make up all sorts of weird rules and we have a lot less

pressure because we don't have old timey people being like, how could you change that where baseball does? So I I'm open to some changes because I think pitching either way needs some tweaks. I don't know if that one is the solution All right, so that means I have a one-point lead headed into the final I have Jeremy for the all right Jeremy Okay, so I have here. Hold on. I have three Guys really funny I'm gonna save Jeremy for the last because if he gets this one, it's over. Yeah, Mike Ryan your card is

Still the same pile for what it's worth. Magliar don't I don't like that well said I don't like that I think I'm talking oh slurred there I kind of swallowed that way you know for I think it was a white sock he wasn't white so yep all right so Mike's now got two yeah and I got two and Jeremy has I have three so Chris Cody you need this to keep the game. Okay? Sydney ponzo. Oh, come on. I Mean come on Rest in peace you can talk to me. I don't like

He's not dead Who could this be $50 wait Sydney ponzo and still alive? Yeah, he is Sydney ponzon very much. That's a fine on zone Fuck have you googled Sydney ponzon? Just that I just I just googled Sydney ponzon and I'll tell you I would not have gotten the team that he was with in 2000 oh, he's from Aruba. That's where I was confused What? The Giants.

He was not a Giant. Disappointing part for you is he was in black and orange. He was a Baltimore Oriole. This is a weird card. Yeah, did you know that he was with the Orioles, Giants and then Orioles again? Yeah, he had one season. And did you know that he's not dead?

So can I get my final one just to- I'm sorry to Sidney Ponzone. I can't believe you killed Sidney Ponzone. Okay, Mike. Your final car, Jeremy, with the win already. That's not an improvement. Tino Martinez. Tino Martinez in 2004.

This is bullshit. I actually don't know. I'm gonna play like I don't know. I think he was still a Yankee. No, no, don't know. I'm not sure I'm gonna play like I don't know Think he was still a Yankee He wasn't a Yankee. He wasn't a Yankee. You guessed Yankee. No, I said I hold on. I mean it doesn't sure I'll guess the Yankees I still win. Fine, fine. I'll take the L on that one, but I win. He was a Met. He was a Met? He wasn't a Yankee. He wasn't a Met. Dodger? Mariner? He wasn't a Mariner. Oh my god. Who was he with? Was he a Wray?

This is a Marlin? No. He was a a man. Dodger? Mariner. Mariner. Oh my God. Who was he with? Was he a ray? This is a marlin? No. He was a cardinal. Oh yeah! That was the thing! The captain of that's so easy,

nobody knew he was a cardinal. You jerks! That was tricky. Sidney Bonsoon. I think everyone. Oh sorry. Everyone. I thought for sure he was dead.

I'm like a dog with a bone on this one. I think everyone would agree I won this. ["The Star-Spangled Banner"] And now, the rest of our interview, including some Yankees and Mets talk with Jake Storielli. I know you and John Boy talked to Aaron Boone every week. And this week he got pretty annoyed with you guys asking about potentially a benching Anthony Volpe.

He's kind of been in that little bit of offensive funk that I feel like he'll get there. What's there on volt because he's great defensively. So that allows you to need him to be a juggernaut offensively. But he's been the most important spot. Come on, man. This guy's a player. You're like, yeah, the defense is great. We acknowledge that.

Like, that's enormous. He's the best shortstop in the league. Defensively, yeah. And he's hitting like a league average or below league average hitter. Well below, yeah. Add it all up, he's a winning player. Like stop it. I mean, I can say stop it back if I want.

I disagree. I disagree. So that's two good offensive weeks and he's a 720 OPS and the best defender in the league. And you got yourself a pretty damn good player right there. He's going to get there to just have him not in the lineup. Next question. Seriously, when you run the team, you can make that call. I just want to know what your thoughts were, what your reaction was to his sort of, you know,

strong passion about how Volpe plays the shortstop position and why he should be in the lineup every day. So it's tough because there's three different worlds in play, there's the real world of a baseball team and athletes and how they operate. There's then the world of podcasting and conversation, where we do hour long episodes three times a week that conversation is constant and flowing. And then there's the world of social media, where it's give me that 10 second

clip and oh, is Boone mad at them? For us, there's an organizational problem where the Yankees, they're they're worried about the media becoming a thing because it's New York and I get it. And now look at us like we are we are part of the problem that I think they try to get ahead of situations where they've said, you know, Anthony Volpe is a shortstop and that's it. And again, he's defensive, he's been awesome. He's been so much better than his gold glove season

from last year that defensively, and as a great shortstop, that's such a valuable person. I get that. I 1,000% get that. Jimmy, you know, Jimmy, when he digs, he digs. And we had a little birdie tip us off. And Brian Cashman did a press conference last off season where he was like, you guys wait,

Volpe's gonna go nuts next year. And when he's an amazing hitter, you guys are gonna compliment our minor league hitting program and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. We talked to Boone yesterday and they're like, hey, that great defensive short with a below average hitter, that's a good MLB player. And it's like, hey, that great defensive short with a below average hitter, that's a good MLB player. And it's like, whoa, you know,

those goal posts have shifted significantly. And I just think if the Yankees, like Volpi was in a funk until yesterday, and hey, maybe we were part of the baseball gods that we're gonna look up in a couple of weeks and he goes nuts, because he's shown the talent. But Volpi's gone through a couple of funks this year. When you've had guys like, as well as Cabrera has had a really good stretch.

Why not give Volpe a day off against the tough righty? Paraza is on the team right now. Him and Volpe were supposed to go toe to toe for a while. Paraza was supposed to be better defensively. That it's like, well, if he's going to be on the team for a week or two, why not get Volpe some rest? Like I by trying to get ahead of a couple things, I think they've put themselves in a bad position

baseball wise that if Volpe had, you know, semi-regularly gotten days off, or maybe if he even played a day at second base, oh my goodness, like, if that had happened ever, then none of this would have been a problem. So we like Volpe. And he's 22 and he's shown a lot of good signs. But it's also like a lot of young players. Most young players are bad at baseball. It's really tough, you know? So like in a way, are you, are you hurting him by being like, Hey, I

know you're oh for your last 20, but go out and get this guy today. Like sometimes that hurts more than it helps. Little time off to dig yourself out of a hole can sometimes be really great, even if not physically, just mentally to get that relief when you're playing in a marathon of a season. So, you know, we're talking about Volpi, but what are the vibes like around the Yankees in general right now? It's really interesting, man.

We were at the the first ever fanatics fest this weekend and we had a blast. It was a good time. A lot of Yankee fans, obviously. Everyone's reaction. It was kind of my like next part of the conversation because it's like, oh, we love you guys. Oh, thank you. Oh, what's up? And then my my next pivot point, if we need something like, how do you feel about the Yanks? And almost everyone to a T kind of did like the the shrug.

Like, I don't know. Like, we're good, right? Like the record says we're good. We have star talent that is unmatched on a lot of teams ever with Judge Soto. Now Cole looks like he's back that there's a lot of teams ever with Judge Soto. Now Cole looks like he's back. That there's a lot to like, but there's also just a lot of holes on that offense. And the bullpen is scary.

Like the rotations had their ups and downs, but there's bodies that are gonna contribute, although Luis Hiel leaves the game with an injury yesterday. Although we're daydreaming that that may lead into more of a bullpen role going forward. The bullpen has been out of sorts for a little bit. And hey, you can look at some teams in recent years, that Atlanta Braves team that won the World Series, their bullpen going into the playoffs was actually

out of sorts a bit. The Texas Rangers, who won last year, their bullpen coming into the postseason was like, oh, my God, right. Oh, my God. That I don't know, man. It's they are a good team. We would love if just a couple question marks could get erased. If Gleyber could hit like Gleyber, if Verdugo could hit like Verdugo, if, you know, if Nester Rodin was dominant going into the postseason, something like that would make Yankee fans feel a lot

better. But right now we're good. Well, only the Rockies have a worse ERA among starting pitchers since the middle of June. So how much hope are you putting into like Clark Schmitz's return to the rotation? I'm I'm interested to see, you know, the more injuries you see over the years, the more skeptical you get. I think Clark's going to be good. I think they've slow played him because he's been there in a position where they technically can do that.

If you don't necessarily care about the division race that I don't know, I view it as an as an opportunity. If Clark comes back and he's pitching like he did to start the year, you might have a three, four starter there in the postseason, which is incredible. If it looks a little different, then maybe you consider him for the bullpen, which is still a problem. So getting Clark Schmidt back will be a win in whatever fashion it is. But yeah, Garrett Cole, you know,

that's obviously one of the big ones. He's had back to back good starts. Rodin, the season overall has been good. Some of the numbers are a little deceptive. He's had two blow up starts that if you really get those out, and you could do this with a lot of pitchers, but his numbers would look much better.

And yeah, I think a Nestor or a Stroman will go into the postseason hot, and I kind of like the makeup of both those guys in the postseason that I'm not too worried about the rotation. The good news is, is both of those guys you just named in Cortez and Stroman, those guys are gamers. Like those are the types of guys who thrive when the lights are on and they really want that pressure put

on them in a start in a postseason. So, you know, for me as a Miami guy, I'm hoping jazz gets healthy and contribute to you guys making a run because it would be really fun to watch. Let's shift across town in New York real quick to the Mets. Obviously there are a couple games back of the Braves at the moment for the third wild card spot in the National League. But a bigger question, are we potentially watching the last month of Pete Alonso as a man? Man, that's my my guy, Jolly Olive, who works here, big Mets fan, does some does some awesome stuff for our jam baseball YouTube and his own. You know, he's he's the Mets guy in the office amongst a handful of them.

They're powerful but mighty bunch. That, yeah, I think that conversation has really opened up over the past couple days on one of my other shows, Wake and Jake. Jolly was like, I'm taking it in as a Mets fan as these could be the last five weeks of Pete Alonzo. And it's one of those things that doesn't sink in until you like hear that sentence. You're like, what? Like Pete Alonzo, that's he is the Mets.

Like it's Pete. That they've got an interesting offseason coming. I it's if he goes to the finish line and he has a couple good weeks, his numbers are going to be in line with his numbers. And you just can't pencil in that many guys for 35 home runs a season or whatever Pete can bring in. There's going to be a big market for him. I try to put myself in a GM shoes and say like, hey, you know, if I was running a front office and that 35 homer a year right handed hitting power first baseman slash DH.

And now there's 30 DHS is kids free agency. And I've got the payroll to go get them. You go get that guy. Um, that it's very interesting to see the Mets approach with it. I don't think it's over. Like, I think there's a number to be met with the Mets and uncle Steve and that payroll that, you know, I'm hearing all these Soto rumors. Let's say that doesn't happen. Well, OK, maybe of that 600 mil, 150 goes to Pete. All right, Jake, final question for you here.

Final question. We stick with New York. We look at both of the stars you just mentioned. Juan Soto and the Yankees, Pete Alonso and the Mets. Which of those two stars is more likely to be on their same team come next season? Juan Soto is a Yankee or Pete Alonso is a Met? Tough to cover the bias on this one, but I'm wearing, I'm talking Jake wearing a Yankees hat. I am literally wearing pinstripes. I mean, I know it I know Yankee pinstripes, but still pinstripes Here's what I will say. I think the Alonzo discussion is in

interesting like the other teams you'd mentioned like Seattle has been looking to Welch a power thirst for a while. Who knows what other teams Cubs? Any any team can truly use Pete Alonzo the one one that got our office scared the other day, the Houston Astros. Yikes. Like if Pete goes there, start penning in 40 homers a year. I would say Soto to the Yankees just because they paid a decent price to get one. So to like go look at what Michael King's doing this year. That's right. One of the other prospects they gave up that brought in Dylan C's for them. Like the Padres ended up in an OK spot for trading away a guy like that. And for the Yankees, it has opened up a new core timeline for them with Juan Soto being 25, Austin Wells

behind the plate, Volpe like they have instantly reinvigorated a new young core that I think, I think it's going to go down just like Judge. I think Soto is going to hit free agency. We're going to hear about the Blue Jays. We're going to hear a lot about the Mets. I'm sure Dodgers might rear their head. Why not? And always a mystery team. Shout out to our guy, John Heyman. But I think at the finish line and let's say it's 650, I think Juan Soto's going to go back to the Yankees and say like, Hey, you have to be in the neighborhood and that 600 or 575 will get it done. And that's exactly what judge just did and laid out a game plan for two off seasons ago.

It would be remarkable to see those guys play basically the rest of their careers together. But I also got distracted. The moment Michael King's name was mentioned. I thought about the fact that the Marlins traded Michael King for Garrett Cooper and the Yankees traded Michael King for Juan Soto. Jake, thank you so much for joining us for this interview on the Pitch Clock. Sorry to end with that memory, but thank you. Stugaccia from my friends over at SimpliSafe. If you're like me, you're constantly thinking about the safety of the people and things

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